Leo's Delicatessen Offers Daily Specials. Inquire by Visit Or Phone

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Leo’s Delicatessen is open the following

Leo’s Delicatessen

offers daily

hours to serve you.
Weekdays
Monday - Thursday 11:00am - 7:00pm
Friday 11:00am - 4:00pm

specials. Inquire by visit or phone

for today’s

selection.

Traditional NY Delicatessen food served right here in Rochester, NY!
Weekends
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - 11:00am-6:00pm

Leo’s accepts cash

and credit cards as forms of payment.

585/784-6825

Established 2008

Leo’s Deli is a service of the

Jewish Home of Rochester
2021 Winton Road S. Rochester, NY 14618
585/784-6825

Soups
Signature Sandwiches
Traditional Favorites

Leo’s Delicatessen uses only the freshest

ingredients when preparing their soups.

Each day we offer a specialty ‘Soup of the Day’. Be sure to ask us for today’s

special!

Delicatessen specialties offered every day at Leo’s.

Sandwiches are served with kosher dill pickle, and choice of cole slaw, macaroni or potato salad.
Choose from the following traditional delicatessen favorites.

$3.50

Knish

A classic deli favorite.
$10.95

Hot Corned Beef

$3.50 $5.95
A Jewish Home favorite! Corned Beef, tender and piled high, served on Rye bread.

Latkes

Served with apple sauce and tofutti sour cream.
$2.75 cup

Soup of the Day

$3.50 bowl
A delicious homemade soup

$8.75 quart
$10.95

Hot Pastrami

Supremely delicious beef pastrami. prepared fresh daily.

Stuffed Cabbage

$2.75 cup
$3.50 bowl $8.75 quart

Matzo Ball Soup

Just like mom makes!
Ground beef and rice cooked in cabbage leaves and served with a tangy tomato sauce.

Traditional Deli Sandwiches

Traditional deli meats cooked in house, sliced fresh to order. Sandwiches are served with kosher dill pickle, and choice of cole slaw, macaroni or potato salad.

$3.25 cup
$3.50

$5.95

Kreplach Soup
Frankfurter

$3.95 bowl
Small beef noodle pockets
$8.95 quart
A classic favorite .. A frankfurter served hot off the roller! Served with kosher dill pickle and potato chips.

Leo’s offers white, wheat and rye breads, and white or

Garden burger

Served with kosher dill pickle and potato chips.

wheat wraps.

Salad Plates

$7.95

Roast Beef

Salad plates are served on a bed of mixed greens with tomato, cucumber, red onion and black olives.

Cooked to perfection and shaved thin.

Cold Plates

$5.75 $3.50

Chopped liver

With cucumber, tomato, red onion and crackers.
$7.75

Fresh Turkey

Slow roasted and thinly sliced.
$6.50

Tuna salad plate
Pickled Herring

With tomato and red onion.
$5.50

Egg salad plate

$5.25

Bologna or Salami

Both are a classic favorite.
$6.50

Chicken salad plate

Beverages

$6.25

Tuna, Egg or Chicken Salad

$1.25

Iced Tea, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Brown Sodas

$3.50

Mixed green salad

Topped with tomato, cucumber, red onion and black olives. Served with your choice of dressing.

$7.75

Combo meal

A cup of soup and half sandwich of your choice.
$1.25 $1.25 $1.50

Natural Spring Water Juices

$1.50
Additional side salad

Salad dressings available:

Coffee and Teas- An array of assorted Keurig® cups– 8 oz.

Italian Vinaigrette, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Ranch and Thousand Island

Desserts

Leo’s Delicatessen is proud to offer a variety of

fresh baked desserts, made daily. Please inquire

about today’s selections.

Extra dressing $0.25 each

Recommended publications

Delicatessen Catering

PARTY SLOPPY JOES 12 Serves 6 to 7 peop ...............................le ... 22 – 24 pieces per tray 14 Serves 9 to 10 peop ...............................le . 36. – 38 pieces per tray 12" Party Joes 12" Salad Party Joe Ham .................................................... 40.00 Tuna .................................................... 45.00 Turkey ................................................. 41.00 Egg Salad ............................................. 39.00 TRIO .................................................... 42.00 Chicken Salad ..................................... 42.00 Corned Beef ........................................ 43.00 Pastrami .............................................. 43.00 Individual Sandwiches Roast Beef ........................................... 43.00 per sandwich Grilled Chicken and 14" Party Joes Roasted Peppers ............................ $9.95 Eggplant, Fresh Mozzarella, Ham .................................................... 50.00 Roasted Peppers .............................. 9.95 Turkey ................................................. 51.00 Grilled Vegetables ................................. 9.95 Roast Beef ........................................... 53.00 Sloppy Joes ......................................... 10.00 Open 7 Salad s TRIO ................................................... 52.00 Days Cold Cut s Corned Beef ........................................ 53.00 in quarters on rye, wraps or roll A Sloppy Jo e .................. 9.50 Week Sandwiche s Tea Sandwiches Consists of Tuna, Egg
DIABLO FOODS DELICATESSEN Your Phone: DELI FAX 925.283.2140

DIABLO FOODS DELICATESSEN Your Phone: DELI FAX 925.283.2140 Your Name: P/U Time: Special Instructions: Build Your Own Sandwich $7.99 Build Your Own Hot Sandwich $8.99 Fillings - choose up to 2 to equal ¼ lb. □ Roast Beef □ Turkey ________________ □ Tuna Salad □ Corned Beef □ Chicken _______________ □ Chicken Salad_________ □ Pastrami □ Ham __________________ □ Egg Salad □ Salami _____________ □ Mortadella □ PB&J ($2.99) □ Coppa □ Bologna _______________ □ Other________________ Cheeses - choose 1 □ Swiss □ Cheddar □ American □ Meunster □ Havarti □ Jack □ Pepper Jack □ Provolone □ Cream Cheese □ Brie □ Other________ □ _____________ Breads □ Sweet French Roll □ Dutch Crunch □ Wheat Roll □ Rye (L/D/M) □ Sourdough French Roll □ Sliced White □ Sliced Wheat □ 9–Grain □ Ciabatta Roll □ Sliced Sourdough □ Multigrain Wrap □ Focaccia Spreads Basics Goodies Extras $3. ea. □ Oil □ All □ Bacon (5 slices) □ Extra Meat (2 oz.) □ Vinegar □ Lettuce □ Cucumber □ Extra Cheese □ Mayonnaise □ Tomato □ Roasted Red Pepper □ Imported Prosciutto □ Yellow Mustard □ Onion □ Jalapeño □ Fra’mani Salame □ Honey Mustard □ Pickle □ Walnuts □ Double Bacon □ Stone Gnd. Mustard □ Peppers □ Sunflower Seeds □ Other___________ □ Dijon Mustard □ Sprouts □ Avocado □ _______________ □ “BIYN” Mustard □ Horseradish Sauce □ Pesto □ Hummus Voted the best sandwich in Lamorinda □ Olive Tapenade by the Patch reader’s choice poll. □ Cranberry Thank You! DIABLO FOODS • 3615 MT. DIABLO BOULEVARD • LAFAYETTE, CA 94549 • 925-283-0737 DIABLO FOODS DELICATESSEN Your Phone: DELI FAX 925.283.2140 Your Name: P/U Time: Special Instructions: SPECIALTY COLD SANDWICHES $7.99 □ CRANBERRY FOOL -Smoked turkey, Brie and Cranberry Sauce, on a sourdough French roll. □ ITALIAN COMBO -Coppa, Danish ham, Mortadella, salame, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onions, pepperoncini, oil and vinegar, served on a sourdough French Roll. □ ITALIANO AMORE -Fresh Mozzarella, basil, roasted tomatoes, onion, oil and vinegar, on a sour baguette.
Touchofitaly.Com (302) 703-3090

PRIMI PIATTI SECONDI PIATTI Orecchiette con Salsiccia e Friarielli 18 Pollo al Taleggio 21 Ear shaped pasta with Italian sausage and broccoli rabe sautéed in Chicken cutlet breaded in our homemade bread crumbs, pan-seared in garlic, and EVOO a white wine Italian herb sauce then topped with melted taleggio cheese and prosciutto di parma, served over a bed of sautéed spinach Ravioli 18 Borgatti’s hand-crafted cheese ravioli topped with our homemade Salmone Oreganata 21 tomato basil sauce and a dollop of fresh ricotta Salmon roasted in our wood-fired oven then topped with warm caponata, served with escarole and cannellini beans Fettuccine Alfredo 18 Filetto di Manzo alla Griglia 28 Homemade fettuccini pasta tossed in a light parmigiano reggiano Fire-grilled hanger steak with Italian seasonings served with sautéed cream sauce topped with seared pancetta and shaved asiago cheese peppers, onions, and broccoli rabe Costoletta di Vitello 30 Garganelli alla Bolognese 19 Porterhouse veal chop roasted to a medium temperature in our wood- Homemade penne style pasta tossed in our classic meat sauce topped fired oven, seasoned with Italian herbs and EVOO, served with spinach with freshly grated parmigiano reggiano and basil and rosemary roasted potatoes Tagliatelle Fra’ diavolo 24 Pollo alla Contadina 23 Thin flat noodles with shrimp, clams, mussels, and calamari tossed Oven roasted chicken on the bone with sweet Italian sausage sautéed in a spicy hot marinara sauce with peppers, onions, potatoes, EVOO, and rosemary Gnocchi Calciano 14 Light as a feather
Macaroni Italian Trattoria

MACARONI ITALIAN TRATTORIA Enjoy the authentic tastes of the trattoria with this selection that will please even the hungriest of diners in your party. Our deliciously creative menu brings you the tempting flavours of Italian classics and homemade pasta, together with a choice of our very popular pizzas baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. We also present Salumeria, our delicatessen offering an enticing selection of chilled wines and cold cuts. Αppetizers Zuppa del giorno 16.00€ Soup of the day Bruschetta misto 19.00€ Bruschetta, tomato, olives, anchovies, homemade fresh ricotta, herb pesto Antipasto platter 27.00€ Imported Italian cold cuts and cheeses, pickled vegetables, “allo olio” bread, honey Arancini di riso e salsiccia 17.50€ Fried rice balls stuffed with buffalo mozzarella and spicy minced pork meat, served with marinara sauce Vitello tonnato 20.50€ Roasted veal slices, tuna sauce, rocket leaves, caper berries Salads Caprese di buffalo 20.00€ Buffalo milk mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, homemade basil pesto, extra virgin olive oil Misticanze al balsamico 14.50€ Mixed green salad, dried cranberries, candied walnuts, Grana Padano D.O.P., aged balsamic vinegar Verdure grigliate e gorgonzola 19.50€ Grilled vegetables with creamy gorgonzola, fresh herbs, mustard dressing Gamberi, avocado e lentice 18.50€ Prawns, avocado, lentils, butter lettuce salad, Pecorino, spicy lemon dressing Pizza Margherita e pomodorini 18.00€ Tomato sauce, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil Capricciosa 22.00€ Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, ham, spicy salami, artichokes, black olives Inferno 22.00€ Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami “salsiccia” from Napoli Parma 22.00€ Tomato sauce, mozzarella, 36 m.o.
THE VAULT DELICATESSEN on the Courthouse Square

THE VAULT DELICATESSEN The Vault Gourmet Sandwiches are served with a side of mixed greens, homemade croutons and dressings. on the courthouse square Substitute greens for a gourmet deli side + 1.50 extra 368 S. Jefferson . Mason, MI (Various pastas, bean. coleslaw or potato salads) Substitute Cup of Soup for side greens, add 2.75 517-676-2696 open everyday www.thevaultdeli.com (H) Hot Grilled (V) Vegetarian Selection Options: Half Sandwich –2.50 less And More….. Add Meat 2.75 Add Cheese 1.75 Add Avocado 1.75 Sub Udi GF Bread 1.25 #3 Hambone 7.75 Pit Smoked Sliced ham, Muenster cheese. lettuce, tomato, Make it Hot 1.25 cucumber and red onion with red pepper mayo served on whole wheat bread. Our Finest Featuring Beef #48 Croque Monsieur (H) 8.25 Sliced Smoked ham, melted swiss cheese, honey mustard on #1 Rollin's Reuben (H) 9.25 toasted croissant with lettuce and tomato Corned Beef, Jarlsberg Swiss, Sauerkraut, Russian #25 B.L.T. 8.25 (H) dressing on toasted Rye. Named for Banker, Rollin Dart, Served on toasted organic wheat with Hellmann's mayo. Good who walked these floors over a half century ago! portion of our Darrell's Thick Smoked Bacon, crisp leaf lettuce, sliced tomatoes stacked high. #32 Brooklyn Reuben (H) 9.25 Corned Beef and Swiss piled high on rye bread with #18 Club Florine Fantastic 8.50 thousand island dressing and creamy coleslaw. A Classic Club sandwich on wheat, Smoked Turkey, Smoked Ham, Darrell's Bacon, lettuce & tomato. Mayo Dressing. #7 Pastrami on Rye (H) 9.25 Pastrami, Jarlsberg Swiss, Sauerkraut and spicy brown #2 Mike's a Turkey 7.95 mustard on fresh baked toasted rye.
160218 Bodacious Bagel Menu

BAGELS BEVERAGES BOAR ’S HEAD DELI SANDWICHES 1/4 Pound of Boar’s Head Deli Meat Genuine New York Style dozen . 9.75 Coffee/Tea 12 oz . 1.74 Custom made to order Kettle Boiled Bagel single . 1.13 16 oz . 1.98 BLT . 5.25 20 oz . 2.16 Nine Bagels . 7.95 Bologna . 5.20 Half Dozen . 5.95 Fresh Coffee Refills . 1.00 Veggie with Cheese . 5.00 Bag of Day Olds (6) . 2.50 Gourmet Tea medium . 2.07 Chicken Salad . 5.75 large . 2.16 Corned Beef . 6.75 BAGEL WITH SPREAD Hot Cocoa small . 1.85 Cream Cheese & Sliced Lox . 7.95 medium . 2.05 Ham & Swiss Cheese . 6.50 Plain Cream Cheese . 2.31 large . 2.25 Pastrami . 6.75 Low Fat Plain Cream Cheese . 2.54 Iced Coffee/Tea medium . 2.40 Roast Beef . 6.75 large . 2.92 Homemade Flavor Cream Cheese . 2.54 Tuna Salad . 5.75 Veggie Low Fat Veggie Chocolate Milk (16 oz) . 1.88 Turkey . 5.95 Scallion Low Fat Chive Poland Spring Water (20oz) . 1.40 Smoked Turkey . 5.95 Garlic & Herb Low Fat Cucumber Onion Dill Fountain Soda (24oz) . 1.55 Whitefish Salad . 7.25 Walnut Raisin Apricot Honey Egg Salad . 4.95 Strawberry Jalapeño & Green Chili 20 oz Coke Products . 1.79 Snapple . 1.51 Roasted Chicken Breast . 5.95 Lox Cream Cheese . 3.34 Juices . 1.88 Buffalo Chicken Breast . 5.95 Miami Cream Cheese . 3.34 Add Cheese . for only 75¢ Swiss, American, Cheddar or Provolone Butter . 1.60 ESPRESSO BEVERAGES (Pickles and Chips Included) Peanut Butter .
Catering Menu

Appetizer Trays Dessert Trays International Sausage & Cheese All trays 5 person minimum Platter Fresh-Baked Cookies - $1.75 A selection of European-style sausages Assortment of chocolate chunk, oatmeal JJ that includes Polish kielbasa, Ukrainian raisin and sugar cookies. kielbasa, German hunter sausage & veal Fresh-Baked Cookies & Brownies International & pork kabanos. Cheese selection $2.25 Delicatessen includes mild Dutch Edam, Ukrainian Assortment of chocolate chunk, oatmeal Abbatsky, NY State cheddar, Polish raisin, sugar cookies, chewy Rocky Road & Catering Holldamer, Ukrainian smoked Swiss. chocolate chip brownies. $4.75 per person, 5 person Polish-Style Cheese Cake - $2.50 Menu minimum A dense ricotta cheese cake with peaches Polish Marble Cake - $2.5 International Sausage, Salami & Delicious, light marble cake Cheese Platter Assorted Cakes Tray - $2.50 A selection of European-style sausages & Our marble cake, ricotta cheese cake & salamis that includes Polish kielbasa, chewy brownies 174 Pike Street Ukrainian kielbasa, German hunter (in between Dad’s & the sausage & veal & pork kabanos, What Makes us Laundromat) German Cerevlat salami, Paris salami, Port Jervis, NY Genoa salami. Cheese selection includes Unique? (845)858-1142 mild Dutch Edam, Ukrainian, Abbatsky, We start with the finest, freshest NY State cheddar, Polish Holldamer, ingredients such as our in-house roasted, We Accept All Major Credit Ukrainian smoked Swiss. seasoned top round, authentic Polish Cards $5.00 per person, 5 person kielbasa, delicious Polish ham, imported Delivery Can be Arranged, minimum cheeses and the best homemade stuffed Port Jervis, Matamoras and International Cheese Platter cabbage in Tri-States. All of our meats are Immediate Surrounding Area Choose from our 28 cheeses to make it from smaller processors and in some cases still made by hand, such as our delicious Tuesday – Friday, 9AM – 6PM your own! Saturday 9AM – 5PM $4.25 per person, 5 person minimum Forest Pork Store offerings.
DELICATESSEN DUALITY Story by Ed Carroll | Photography by Michael C

FOOD FIRST COURSE DELICATESSEN DUALITY Story by Ed Carroll | Photography by Michael C. Butz The “Upper East Side” from Lox, Stock & Brisket, which is cured and A pastrami on rye with mustard and saurkraut from smoked brisket with cucumbers, dill and mustard on rye. Larder: A Curated Delicatessen and Bakery. Nearly simultaneously, Anthony Zappola and Jeremy Umansky ushered in a new wave of nosh for Northeast Ohioans to savor 50 Jstyle Summer 2018 jstylemagazine.com nthony Zappola and Jeremy Umansky didn’t really know each other until a few years ago, despite both Agrowing up on the East Side and going on to become top-shelf chefs. Parallels between the two don’t end there. Each built impressive culinary résumés with it, so there’s room for growth. That’s that ultimately included stepping away why I like it, more than anything.” from roles working alongside other The location – in one of the many high-profile chefs. After first working plazas that line the south side of Cedar in New York City, Umansky served as Road west of Warrensville Center Road – general manager, larder master and was previously a meat smoker-equipped wild food forager at Jonathon Sawyer’s barbecue joint. Trentina in Cleveland’s University Circle “The equipment was already here,” neighborhood, and Zappola cut his teeth Zappola says. “The location of what it with Tom Colicchio at his three Craft was and (with) the décor, it sort of looked restaurants in New York, Los Angeles and like a sandwich shop. The smoker was Las Vegas. He also was executive chef at obviously a big part of it, so then I said, Colicchio’s Heritage Steak in Las Vegas.
Pasta Carne Verdure Antipasti

ANTIPASTI assaggi dal bancone salads INSALATA MISTA 13.5 PROSCIUTTO CON PISTACCHIO 17.5 SELEZIONE DEL SALUMIERE local organic market greens with a lemon vinaigrette our salumiere’s selection of meats aged prosciutto di parma, fresh mozzarella di dressing & shaved parmigiano reggiano 21 | 30 bufala & toasted pistachio CROSTINI DAL SALUMIERE INSALATA CAPRESE 17.5 choice of select cured meat over toasted tuscan bread imported italian mozzarella di bufala, fresh tomatoes, 17.5 BRESAOLA E ARUGULA pancetta || lardo || guanciale || Nduja basil, drizzled with evoo & balsamic reduction bresaola, carpaccio style topped with arugula, 11 drizzle of lemon dressing & shaved parmigiano BARBABIETOLE 16 reggiano SELEZIONE ABBONDANZA roasted red and golden beets, baby arugula, marinated shallots, large selection of meats, taralli crackers, red wine vinaigrette and chevre goat cheese mixed olives, parmigiano reggiano, & peperoncini ROASTED PEPPERS WITH ANCHOVIES 14.5 60 16.5 pickled white anchovies served over roasted SALUMERIAʼS SIGNATURE SALAD our signature warm salad of market greens, radicchio and peppers, capers, arugula, garlic & a drizzle of formaggi delicacies soft-scrambled eggs, prosciutto & pancetta pesto RICOTTA WITH ROASTED PEACHES creamy ricotta mixed with walnuts and honey accompanied INSALATA DI ASPARAGI 16 PARMACOTTO CON BURRATA 17.5 with roasted peaches, balsamic reduction & fresh mint sliced asparagus, radish, scallions & arugula dressed with lemon vinaigrette, grated parmigiano reggiano, ﬁnished 13.5 thinly sliced ham served with fresh
Delicatessen

ICATESS DEL EN CARRY OUT & DELIVERY tuesday to saturday 11a-7p SANDWICHES SIDES+MORE ROSINO $13 TALLOW FRIES . $5 finocchiona, calabrese, city ham, capocollo, provolone, W/ SPECIAL SAUCE BAG O CHIPS . $1.50 giardiniera, tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo, baguette SEA SALT, BBQ, JALAPENO, SALT & VINEGAR, OR AGED CHEDDAR & HORSERADISH SMOKED TURKETTI $12 SIDE SALAD . $5 turkey breast, cheddar, onion, lettuce, mayo, avocado SIMPLE GREENS WITH VINIAGRETTE on porridge loaf CHIPS & GUAC . $8 $10 BUBBATOWN SALSA . .$5.50 LOX “THAT SPICY CARROT” beet + horseradish cured salmon, herbed cream cheese, PESTO PASTA SALAD . $6 onion, tomato, capers with rye bread and avocado CHICKEN SALAD (PINT) . $10* CHICKPEA WRAP (VEGAN) $10 N’DUJA EGG SALAD (PINT) . $6* smashed & marinated chickpeas, baba ghanoush, *MAKE IT A SANDWICH . +$4 fresh & pickled veggies, lettuce, flour tortilla SERVES 2 W/ TOMATO, ONION, LETTUCE AND 4 SLICES OF BREAD PULLED PORK $10 carolina gold bbq, bread and butter pickles, onion on SWEETS seeded bun TRAILMIX COOKIE $3 apricot, fig, pepitas, cashew, chocolate chip cookie CHICKEN SALAD WRAP $8 4BIRDS BAKERY COOKIE $4 provolone, lettuce, pickled onion, flour tortilla sea salt choc chip or peanut butter gluten free gluten free option available from native bread +1.50 bread native from available option gluten free BANANA BLONDIE $3 MAINSTAYS w/ brown butter cream cheese SMASH BURGER $10 WINGS $10 1/4 lb bacon blended beef patty, american cheese, 1 lb of fried chicken wings special sauce, lettuce, onion, tomato, pickle CHOOSE A SAUCE: on seeded
In Pastrami We Trust: a History of the American Jewish Delicatessen from 1880 to the Present Daniel Schwarz, MA Candidate In

In Pastrami We Trust: A History of the American Jewish Delicatessen from 1880 to the Present Daniel Schwarz, MA candidate in Public History, American University Somewhere on East Houston Street, you will find it. Walk past the bustling pizza parlors and Chinese restaurants. Wind your way through the endless rows of old tenement buildings where dilapidated ground floors are now occupied by upscale clothing boutiques and coffee shops. Follow the crowds of hungry tourists and enthusiastic locals, and before you know it, you will find yourself standing under the flashing neon sign of the last Lower East Side deli.1 Katz’s Deli has been in business since 1888, and in recent years, it has gained recognition for defying an unfortunate trend. For the last few decades, the deli has slowly disappeared from the American landscape. It is stunning to think that even during the Great Depression, when countless businesses struggled to stay afloat, some five thousand delis flourished throughout New York City.2 Now that Katz’s stands as the last bastion of a neighborhood’s culinary tradition, thousands of tourists and New Yorkers make the pilgrimage each day. They come, because they are hungry, and they crave the garlicky, smoked pastrami crammed between two slices of soft rye with plenty of golden mustard. Older patrons may have childhood memories of eating at Katz’s or other delis, and turn in their tickets at the tall glass counter with the hope that they can relive their youth. Still, there are other customers who may be Jewish, and not particularly religious, 1 David Sax, Save the Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen (New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009), 8.
Pastrami Land: the Jewish Deli in New York City

learned to appreciate the absurd and sometimes brilliant per- pastrami land, formance of the wise-cracking, bossy, know-it-all waiters—as much a part of my personal deli experience as the Formica the jewish deli in tables, the walls lined with pictures of celebrities I’d never heard of, the glass cases filled with enormous cheesecakes, new york city and the multimeat sandwiches named after comedians. Contexts’ editors didn’t know any of this when they harry g. levine asked me to write a piece on New York Jewish delis in time for the American Sociological Association meetings. They just wanted somebody to do it. More than 5,000 sociologists would be coming to the city, many of whom had occasional- My father used to loudly and proudly describe himself as ly enjoyed the blessings and spiritual uplift found in Sidney a “gastronomical Jew.” Some people used that term as an Levine’s form of gastronomical Judaism. The conference hotel insult, but not Sid Levine. As a kid, I heard him say it so often sits one block from the Carnegie Deli and the Stage, and I thought gastronomical was a standard type of Judaism. close to several other sit-down eateries selling this same sort cultur Sid grew up in Jewish Harlem, the youngest child of of food in similarly styled and decorated restaurants. impoverished, secular, socialist, Yiddish-speaking immi- Where did these restaurants and this culinary tradition grants. A thoroughly ethnic Jew, Sid worshiped only at del- come from? Nobody thinks that poor Jews in Eastern Europe icatessens.